FWCS raises nearly $30,000 for Riley

Fort Wayne Community Schools raised $29,155 for Riley Children's Foundation, benefiting Riley Hospital for Children, during the 2008-09 school year. Nearly two-thirds of the schools met their goal of becoming a Miracle School. Twenty-five elementary schools, one intermediate school, five middle schools and one high school raised at least $1 for every student in the building. Four schools - Croninger and Harris Elementary schools, Wayne High School and Anthis Career Center - raised more than $1,000 to support Riley. Harris raised the most with $3,192, or more than $8 on average per student. In 2007-08, FWCS students raised $31,738 and became the largest Miracle Corporation ever. While this year's collection was slightly lower, the money raised is still a significant contribution from FWCS students and staff. Riley Hospital is Indiana's only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children. The hospital opened in 1924 in honor of the famous Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley. Each year, more than 192,000 patient visits take place at Riley. Children come from each county in the state, across the nation and throughout the world. The hospital has a strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, making it the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region. Each year families from Allen County turn to Riley for care nearly 3,000 times; families from Northeast Indiana visit Riley more than 6,500 times. Many of these children are also being treated at either Parkview or Lutheran facilities. Of the appointments from Allen County, 193 are inpatients visits and 2,795 are outpatient visits. The schools earning Miracle Status are: Bunche and Whitney Young early childhood centers, Adams, Arlington, Brentwood, Croninger, Franke Park, Glenwood Park, Haley, Harris, Harrison Hill, Holland, Indian Village, Lincoln, Lindley, Maplewood, Nebraska, Pleasant Center, Scott Academy, Shambaugh, South Wayne, St. Joseph Central, Study, Waynedale and Weisser Park elementary schools, Towles Intermediate School, Blackhawk, Jefferson, Kekionga, Lane and Shawnee middle schools and Wayne High School.

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.